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The pace of life is accelerating, so we are seeking ways to optimize the shelf life of products. To achieve this goal, the microbiological quality of rabbit meat was assessed at 7, 14, and 21 days under refrigerated conditions, utilizing two storage methods, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and vacuum packaging (VAC). Maintaining high levels of hygiene is critical not only during slaughter but also during subsequent technological processes and meat storage. The research concluded that the MAP method was more effective at extending the shelf‐life of fresh rabbit meat than the VAC method. Additionally, increasing the CO2 concentrations in meat significantly decreased the Pseudomonas bacteria population (after 14 and 21 days of storage). Conversely, the gaseous mixture containing 70% O2 significantly decreased the Enterobacteriaceae population in the sample after 21 days of storage. Moreover, the MAP storage method considerably impeded microbial growth, particularly the total yeast and mold count, lactic acid bacteria count, and Pseudomonas spp. count. This study's findings demonstrate that rabbit meat can be stored for 21 days in a modified atmosphere containing appropriate concentrations of gases such as gaseous carbon dioxide and oxygen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted on 84 rabbits. The animals were weaned at the age of 42 days, after which they were all fed the same diet. Rabbit loins were obtained 24 h post-mortem and divided into groups according to the packaging method and storage time: control group (examined 24 h post-mortem); two groups stored in vacuum packaging (7 days, n = 12; 14 days, n = 12); and four groups stored in two different gas mixtures (7 days, n = 12/gas mixture; 14 days, n = 12/gas mixture). After the storage, the microbiological and physicochemical quality of longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscles was analyzed. Meat packaged in both systems (MAP and VAC) was characterized by good quality after 7 days of storage, while after 14 days, there was a significant deterioration, which was reflected in disturbances in the color parameters (L* and a*) and substantial changes in the water fraction parameters. The purge loss (<0.0001), total water (<0.0001), free water (<0.001), cooking loss (<0.0001), and plasticity (p = 0.0025) were affected by the group. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that vacuum packaging created the lowest microbial growth rates. However, muscles stored in the gas mixture containing 30%CO2 and 70%O2, characterized with the greatest tenderness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased interest in the production of rabbit meat justifies the need to assess and improve the welfare of these animals not only during the production cycle but also at slaughter. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of different stunning methods on the level of blood biochemical parameters (stress indicators), and meat quality of slaughter rabbits. Rabbits of the Hycole line (n = 60) were subjected to the following stunning methods: mechanical with a non-penetrating captive bolt (group I; n = 20), mechanical by hitting a narrow rod on the head (group II; n = 20), and electrical stunning (n = 20). In the stunning groups there were no differences found in the blood level of insulin, cortisol, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, and protein content (P>0.05). The stunning method did not affect the pH of rabbit meat (P=0.768), but significantly influenced the L* and b* colour parameters. The muscles of longissimus thoracis et lumborum, from the group of rabbits mechanically stunned by hitting a narrow rod on the head, were the darkest (L * = 58.4), with the lowest yellowness values (b* = 4.04). The meat of electrically stunned rabbits was characterised by higher drip loss (P<0.001), lower plasticity (P=0.043), and higher free water content (P=0.043). From the analysed texture measures, only the Warner Bratzler Shear Energy values of the cooked meat were affected by the stunning method. These values were higher in the meat of the mechanically stunned groups compared to the electrically stunned rabbits (P=0.042). The percentage of dry matter, crude protein, extractable fat and water to protein ratio, were affected only by the muscle type (P<0.001). To conclude, the rabbit meat was characterised by good quality, with only slight differences between the groups. No differences were found in the stress reaction of rabbits subjected to the examined stunning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: According to consumer opinion, poor welfare leads to lower quality animal products. The stunning method plays a very important role as far as animal welfare, meat quality, and public health are concerned. The aim of the presented study was to assess the effect of two different stunning methods on the blood stress indicators and the quality of rabbit meat. The underlying goal was to improve the welfare of rabbits at the time of slaughter. The study was conducted on a commercial rabbit farm in Poland. The hybrids used in this study were obtained crossing Hyplus PS19 females with Hycole males (genotype I) and Jordan × Hycole females with Hyla males (genotype II). According to the presented findings, the genotype groups of rabbits differed in meat performance, but the differences in meat quality were minor. The examination of the blood stress biomarkers showed that both stunning methods are optimal when taking the welfare of rabbits into consideration. The presented research revealed some differences in the physiochemical traits of meat, with only slight differences between genotypes and stunning methods. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of two different stunning methods on the level of blood stress indicators (cortisol, insulin, glucose) and rabbit meat quality. The experiment was conducted on crossbreds of Hycole, Hyla, and Jordan rabbit strains: from mating Hyplus PS19 females with Hycole males (genotype I, n = 20) and Jordan × Hycole females with Hyla males (genotype II, n = 20). Prior to slaughter, the animals were weighed and divided into two groups according to the stunning method: 10 rabbits from each genetic group were stunned with an electric stunner, and the remaining 10 were stunned mechanically using a club. Genotype II was characterised by higher body weight at slaughter (p < 0.05), hot dressing percentage (p < 0.05), cold dressing percentage (p < 0.05), hot carcass weight (p < 0.05), and cold carcass weight (p < 0.05), compared to genotype I. The stunning method slightly influenced the meat lightness (p = 0.035). The meat of electrically stunned rabbits was characterised with higher drip loss (p < 0.0001) and lower plasticity (p = 0.043). Among the analysed traits of meat, only the drip loss (p = 0.014) and the percentage of extractable fat were affected by genotype (p = 0.044). Neither the stunning method nor the genotype affected rabbit meat texture characteristics. The study was undertaken because of the increasing importance of rabbit meat production as a developing sector of the meat industry and the need to improve the welfare of rabbits by selecting the most acceptable slaughter methods for these animals. To conclude, the analysed rabbit meat was characterised with good quality. There were only slight differences between genotypes and the stunning groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]